Lubricator for piston-rods.



No. 813,398. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. J. B. BARNES. LUBRIOATOR FOR-PISTON RODS.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.30, 1905.

J, 2J M #a QV UNITED srxfgms PATENT OFFICE.

LUBRICATOR FOR PISTONRODS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed December 30, 1905. Serial No., 293,984.

To all whom it Wha/y concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA B. BARNns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in LubricatorsforLocomotive and other Engine Piston-Rods, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates specially to a lubricator combined in lieu of theordinary gland with the metallic packing of a locomotive piston-rod, butalso applicable to other pistonrods, and has for its object to economizepower by reducing the friction on the rod and to maintain the smoothnessthereof.

rlhe invention consists in features of novelty, as hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, whereon- 1 Figure 1 is a top plan of myimproved lubricator, showing its attachment to that part of thecylinder-head containing the ordinary metallic packing through which thepiston-rod reciprocates; Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof g Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section through the same on line3 3 in Fig, 1 5Fig. 4, a vertical transverse section through the lubricator on line 4 4inFig. 3; and Fig. 5, an inner face view, to enlarged scale, of aportion of the tube or sleeve forming part of my invention, showing thedisposition of the holes therethrough for the passage of the lubricant.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all thefigures.

a represents the piston-rod of alocomotiveengine, having the metallicpacking b, which surrounds the rod a and is contained within thecylinder-head c in the usual well-known manner. To the outer-face of thehead c is fixed by studs (or bolts) 1 a preferably square (or othersuitably shaped) boxv d, which takes the place of the ordinary gland,the box d having a preferably circular interior wall 2, which in theaffixed position of the boxd to the cylinder-head c surrounds and isconcentric with the piston-rod a at a suitable distance therefrom, theinterior of the box d being open at its front side and closed thereat inthe assembled position'of the parts by a preferably circular plate 3,which is let into a recess 4, formed in the front face of the box d andheld in place thereto by preferably overlapping Washers 5, placedbetween the nuts of the studs 1 and thefront face of the box d, asshown, or, if desired, in lieu of the recess 4 the removable plate maybe secured directly to the front face of the box d by separate bolts.`

Through the rear wall 7 of the box d adj acent to the cylinder-head c isformed a central and preferably circular opening 8 concentric with andof somewhat larger diameter than 'the piston-rod a, which passes freelytherethrough and through a similar opposite central opening 9, formedthrough the front closing-plate 3.

Vithin the box d between and in vertical sliding contact or thereaboutwith its rear wall 7 and front closing-plate 3 is placed around and inslidable fit or contact with the piston-rod a a tube or sleeve e, whichis preferably made in halves and channel-shaped in cross-section, holesor perforations 10 being formed through its web or wall 11, the face ofwhich is in contact with the rod a, while around the web 11 beside theflanges 12 of the sleeve e is wound a packing 13 of cotton or othersuitable absorbent material. The holes 10 are preferably staggered andextend at suitable intervals entirely around the sleeve e.

By making the sleeve e in halves, as described, each segment thereof isadapted to yield` independently of the other, whereby any binding of thesleeve e by the rod a during its reciprocation is prevented. lf desired,also the interior surface or face of the sleeve e in contact with therod a may be made slightly conical, as shown in Fig. 3, to preventbinding, in which case the sleeve e may be made in halves or not, aspreferred.

In the top of the box d is formed a pocket or tank f, which is open atthe top, and through the bottom of the pocket f are holes or passages14, communicating with the interior of the box d. In the pocket f isplaced a suitable lubricant, such as the grease used for lubricating thelocomotive axle-boxes, which being gradually dissolved passes throughthe holes 14 into the box d and around the cotton packing 13, by whichit is absorbed and escapes therefrom through the holes 10 of the sleevee onto the piston-rod a, which is therebyconstantly and uniformlylubricated.

The pocket f may be closed by a spring sliding cover 15, as shown, orotherwise, as desired.

'For insuring a steam-tight joint between the box d and thecylinder-head c I preferably interpose between the rear wall 7 of theICO IIO

box d and the outer face of the head c, a wire ring or bead 16, whichislet into a'corresponding recess in the wall 7 and bears externallyagainst the said face, to which it is tightened by the nuts 6 of thestuds 1, or this joint may be made in any other suitable manner.

By this invention, which is applicable to a reciprocating rod throu hthe end of any cylinder, friction on the ro is reduced to a minimum andits surface maintained true and smooth. Moreover, by the reciprocationof the iston-rod a the lubricant is transmitted to the metallic (orother) packing b within the cylinder-head c, whereby undue frictionbetween the surfaces is obviated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lubricator forapiston-rod, the combination with thecylinder-head containing the packing for the said rod, of a box fixed tothe cylinder-head andadapted for the free reciprocation of thepiston-rod therethrough, a pocket in the outer wall of the box contaminga lubricant and having a passage therefrom through the said wall intothe box, and a perforated sleeve encircling the piston-rod and held inposition thereon within the said box, the said sleeve being wrapped withabsorbent material, substantially as described.

2. In a lubricator for a piston-rod, the combination with thecylinder-head having' an opening therethrough for the said rod, of a boxfixed to the cylinder-head and adapted for the free reciprocation of thepiston-rod therethrough, a pocket in the outer .wall of the boxcontaining a lubricant and having a passage therefrom through the saidwall into the box, and a perforated sleeve encircling the piston-rod andheld in position thereon within the said box, the said sleeve beingwrapped with absorbent material, substantially as described.

3. In a lubricator for a piston-rod, the combination with thecylinderhead containing the packing for the said rod, of a box fixed tothe cylinder-head and having a wall at its rear side adjacent to thesaid head, a plate removably fixed to and adapted to close the frontside of the box, the said wall and plate having an opening respectivelysurrounding the sald rod at a suitable distance therefrom, a pocket inthe outer wall ofthe box containing a lubricant and having a passagetherefrom through the said wall into the box, and a perforated sleeveencircling the piston-rod and held in position thereon within the saidbox, the said sleeve being wrapped with absorbent material,substantially as described.

4. Ina lubricator for a piston-rod, the combination with thecylinder-head containing the packing for the said rod, of a box fixed tothe cylinder-head and adapted for the free reciprocation of thepiston-rod therethrough, a pocket in the outer wall of the boxcontaining a lubricant and having a passage therefrom through the saidwall into the box, and a perforated sleeve encircling the piston-rod andheld in position thereon within the said box, the said sleeve havinglateral flanges, and

having a wrapping of absorbent material between the said flanges,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my JOSHUA B. BARNES.

Witnesses:

A. B. MARS, E. R. JEFFERY.

